New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-10

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER II
for that purpose the plants Of tho various con-
tractors whose contracts are expiring.
! Mr.. Wright seems to have been Overscared
bv the idea of the injurious competition Win
outside labor The fact is, twist the question
as you may, prison labor. which must be kcp'
employed. will compete with outside labor
no matter what system be adopted NO doubt
that competition can be prevented from bear
| ing unduly on any one trade by wise diversi-
Gcation of industries, such as seems moro
| prac ticable under the public account system
than any other. But the statistics given IN
Mr.. Wrights own report show that it is only
in certain localities and in limited number Oh
industries that competition is at all likely 10
be serious. The total product OF the prisons
is only one half Of one per cent of the mechan
ical product of the country. The population
of prisons where productive industries arc
carried on is only one in thousand OF the
total population, and the proportion OF convic'
producers to mechanical producers Is
only as one to three hundred. IL
is obvious that cases Of hardship
through the competition OF prison
labor must be rare exceptions With moro
experience in prison administration their num-
Der can be lessened, but they can never disap-
pear. Even the convicts who should make
boots Shoes harness, ETC., under Mr. Wnghts
plan, by hand labor, would be competing with
other workers outside the prison walls
at is a better time for thinking than for
talking much, and have good gift for silence
So SAYS George William Curtis In response to an
invitation to talk politics. 1t is interesting to
note that Napoleon made the same remark directly
after the battle OF Waterloo, and that the lamb
expressed himself to the same effect when he lay
down with the lion only to find himself inside
the king of beasts.
Had tho Boston boon tested first instead Of the Dol
phn it Is likely that John Roach would rest easier
In his grave and the Democrats who bounded MN
there and who have eIuIted over what thGy sya
would have had no such naval victory'-'bunaio HA
press.
The Boston would have Jared no better than
the Dolphin il the Administration had been bent
upon condemnng her and running the builder
for partisan reasons. The Dolphin's speed exceeded
the requirements, and the only fault to be found
with her was meagrc deHcienc, of sixty horse
power which could readily have been overcome
another time. The Administration no longer has
anything 10 gain from similar displays OF unfair
ness and partisanship. Tho cruisers now receive
fair treatment.
Treasurer Polk, OF Tennessee, died and was
buried long ago. Now comes man who has
seen him in Mexico. So there people who
have talked with John Wilkes Booth in Egypt.
II the foolidlcr was about these men would
be as dead as the others.
"Thc World ought to send its Envoy Extraor-
binary TO Mr.. Garland. 1t has dealt with that
statesman in tic past after the manner OF an
opposition journal Mr.. Garland can be invited
to explain away any invidious remarks he may
have made respecting "1he World' and then be
asked few leading questions respecting his Pan
Electric speculations and the propriety OF his
leaving the Cabinet before the President is re-
nominated II our ncighbor has forsworn inde-
pcndcnce and means 10 be n good Administration
organ from this time until after the election,
IL ought TO negotiate SOME kind of truce with
the Attorney General.
Mtkicwicz may not be much of a Count, and
there are some things in his career which are
not over creditablc; but TO all appearances no
has got there Just the same.
The display OF blooming confidence by sundry
statesmen, mostly young, In the statement that
the Hon. John r. Mcpherson is weary OF his
seat in the United States Senate and desires TO
be left 20 the seclusion OF private life, is beautiful
10 sec. IL is liable, however, 10 be struck with
q chilling frost before the first Tuesday after
the first Monday of November, when certain
State Senators who are to have a voice in naming
Mr.. McPherson's successor will be elected in
Ncw-Jcrsey.
II viii he noticed that the ofice-holders are
falling into the fashion Of attacking the Civil
Service Reform Leagues Postmaster Judd. of Chi
cago lately spoke OF the League OF that city as
q body OF "sapheads" But why not whom one OF
Mr.. Clcvelands Civil Service Commissioners
sets them the examplep
THE NEw-YohR TRIBUNE. among other Red Repub-
lican journals, Is demanding a declaration Of war
against England, and II Will not ston TO the pro-
posed conference commission at the head VI which
England has placed Of her most distinguished ci
zens-(IOuisville Courier Journal.
Hardly. The Tall Tower Is too conspicuous n
target from the Lower Bay to admit of importu-
nate demands for from this office. The only
warfare care 10 have wagcd Is warfare upon
pusillanilnous diplomacy.
Had Boodlern Mcdonald OF Chicago Leen able
to force his $50 pounds avordupos through Il
ventlator only eight Inches square no might
have entered the Kingdom of Great Britain.
McDo muSt bn limo cio NJ